Phillips identified as ‘threat’ source

Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman, has been identified as the Texas legislator who threatened colleagues if they didn’t support House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.

State photo

Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman

The House General Investigating and Ethics Committee has now retreated behind close doors to determine appropriate action. Phillips, a member of the committee, has recused himself.

The issue developed earlier this month after Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, withdrew his support for Straus. Hughes complained that one of Straus’ supporters had threatened opponents with retaliation through the redistricting process.

“This member brought up the subject of redistricting and explained to me how that process would be used to punish those members not on Speaker Straus’s list of supporters,” Hughes said at the time. “More specifically, this member told me that maps were already being drawn to get rid of Representative-Elect Erwin Cain, R-Sulphur Springs and Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Van, because they were not on the Speaker’s list of supporters. I was then told that I had nothing to worry about in redistricting, so long as I stayed on the Speaker’s list.”

Hughes said the threat disgusted him. He confidentially identified Phillips to Straus, who asked the committee to investigate.

Phillips was identified publicly before the committee went behind closed doors.